Chris Stone

Recruited from St Kilda City after spending his formative years in Tasmania, Chris Stone is best remembered by Saints fans as a courageous utility who sported one of the most distinctive looks in VFL history. Standing 183cm, he was tall for a rover but versatile enough to play across half-forward or in the centre, making a dream start to his career in 1978 by booting a goal with his first kick against Collingwood. However, a severe eye injury sustained later in that debut match—compounded by a cricket ball impact to the same eye shortly after—forced him to wear protective squash goggles upon his return, a unique necessity that made him an instant cult figure. Stone battled through sporadic senior opportunities over four seasons as the club struggled to settle on his best position, eventually leaving the VFL after knee tendinitis derailed a proposed transfer to Port Adelaide. While his football tenure was brief, his post-career path was remarkable, seeing him move to Europe where he became a successful businessman and the husband of a Belgian Prime Minister before his passing in 2023.